Finger manipulation game

ABSTRACT

A game having three-dimensional objects that are placed around the fingers of a player. Objects having a characteristic corresponding to the objects on the fingers are randomly positioned to be simultaneously viewed by the viewer and the objects on the fingers are manipulated by the user to transpose the positions of the objects on the fingers as necessary, until they correspond with the randomly positioned objects.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Charles E. Helbach 2937 South 2910 West, Granger, Utah 84119 [21] Appl. No. 842,174

[22] Filed July 16, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [54] FINGER MANlPULATlON GAME 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

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3,166,323 1/1965 Anderson 273/144 B X 3,443,809 5/1969 Montanez 273/1 R X 3,484,105 12/1969 Winston 273/1 R FOREIGN PATENTS 1,046,315 1966 Great Britain 273/] OTHER REFERENCES Sears Christmas Catalog, 1968, Tip-1t" pg. 478

Primary Examiner Richard C. Pinkham Arsistanl E.raminer Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-B. Deon Criddle ABSTRACT: A game having three-dimensional objects that are placed around the fingers of a player. Objects having a characteristic corresponding to the objects on the fingers are randomly positioned to be simultaneously viewed by the viewer and the objects on the fingers are manipulated by the user to transpose the positions of the objects on the fingers as necessary, until they correspond with the randomly positioned objects.

PAIENIEDrmvamsn 3.6213723 'SQlQiQIQI ATTORNEY FINGER MANIPULATION GAME BRIEF DESCRIPTION Games requiring some degree of manual dexterity have long been popular both for their entertainment value and for their value as therapy. Similarly, games of chance are popular, apparently because of the suspense involved.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a game that combines the elements of chance with dexterity and skill. Other objects are to provide a game that can be played by a single individual or by a plurality of people, that can be played quietly and that will provide mental stimulation and that can be used to increase finger dexterity during physical rehabilitation.

Principal features of the invention include individually identifiable objects that are adapted to slip onto the fingers of a players hand, and indicator means corresponding to the individually identifiable objects arranged to randomly assume relative positions such that the player can thereafter manipulate the objects into the same order as was randomly assumed by the indicator means. The individually identifiable objects may be of different colors or outer appearance but will generally include a central opening through which a finger can be inserted. The indicator means preferably includes a housing, balls in the housing, individually correlated and identifiable with one of the objects, a groove in which the balls seat and through which they are readily viewed and releasable means for holding the balls seated in the groove after a chance determination of order has been made. The housing, in addition to serving as retaining means for the balls also serves as a carrier for the indentifiable objects.

Additional objects and features and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective showing the components of the invention;

FIG. 2, a side elevation view, with the components fully assembled;

FIG. 3, an end elevation view;

FIG. 4, a vertical central section, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5, a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of individually identifiable objects 10, ll, 12 and 13 are here shown as rings, which are of different colors. One ring is provided for each finger of a players one hand. While the objects -13 are here shown as rings, it will be apparent that their outer shape could as well be triangular, rectangular or otherwise, and that the holes therethrough could be other than round, as shown. The shape and size of the objects will to a large extent determine the degree of dexterity required to manipulate them. It will also be apparent that the objects may be of different shapes rather than all being of the same shape, and varying combinations may increase the complexity of the game.

In addition to the objects adapted to be placed on a users fingers, the game includes means for randomly determining the order of arrangement of such objects. This means, as shown in the drawings, comprises four small balls 14, 15, 16 and 17, each corresponding in color to one of the rings 10-13 and with one ball then corresponding in color to each ring.

The balls 14-17 are positioned within a housing 18 having a large head 19 and a cylindrical extension 20 around which the rings 10-13 are adapted to conveniently fit. A cap 21 has a threaded boss 22 extending downwardly therefrom to mate with threads 23 on the inside of cylindrical extension 20 and the cap extends outwardly, as does head 19. The rings 10-13 are thus conveniently stored around extension 20 and are clamped between head 19 and the enlarged portion of cap 21.

Head 19 has an elongate slot 24 therein, and the inner edges of the slot, inside the housing are chamfered so that the balls will be guided to rest in the slot, which is dimensioned to prevent passage of the balls therethrough.

A keeper member 25 is arranged to rest on the balls 14-17 when they are in the slot 24, but is slidable into the extension 20 of the housing 18 when it is desired to free the balls for a chance determination. The keeper member has guide wings 26 and 27 extending outwardly thereof to respectively extend through slots 28 and 29 oppositely positioned in the sidewall of extension 20. The guide wings terminate in transversely extending and knurled heads 26a and 27a.

Notches 30 and 31 are provided in the rings 10-13 to facilitate their sliding onto the extension 20, past the heads 26a and 27a of wings 26 and 27.

A light spring 32 is positioned in a well 33 provided therefor in cap 21, extends outwardly to fit around a boss 34 on keeper member 25. Thus, the spring normally biases the keeper member toward the slot 24, but if the rings 10-13 are first removed an operator, pushing on one or more of the heads 26a and 27a can move the keeper member away from slot 24 and the balls 14-17 therein, against the bias of spring 32.

In practice, a user will unscrew cap 21 from housing 18 and will remove the rings 10-13 from the extension 20. Thereafter, the cap will again be screwed into the housing such that spring 32, acts on keeper member 25. The user will next place one ring on each finger of one hand. Ten, using the other hand he will slide keeper member 25 in the slots 28 and 29 using a thumb or thumb and finger on heads 26a and 27. This releases the balls 14-17 and the housing can be shaken to rearrange the balls in an unpredictable pattern. When the shaking stops, the balls again settle into slot 24 where they can be viewed. The keeper member is released and the balls are held in their randomly assumed order. The user will then attempt to manipulate the rings on his fingers, using only the hand on which the rings are positioned, until they are arranged in the same sequential order as are the balls in slot 24.

When played by a single individual, the player can score himself on the basis of time required to achieve the desired ring arrangement, deducting points for rings dropped, etc. If the game is to be played by a plurality of persons, additional sets of rings or other such individually identifiable objects may be provided for each player. Scoring can then be either on the basis of time or upon whom is able to complete the desired line-up of identifiable objects most rapidly.

As shown, an eye 36 is provided in the top of cap 21 to provide means for securement of a key chain or the like.

While a particular housing has been shown and it constitutes a very convenient type housing for storage of the individually identifiable members and for rearranging the position of the corresponding chance members, i.e. balls 14-17, the rings could be stored separately from the housing. Also, while the housing includes a particular spring biased keeper member, other types of keeper members could be used or gravity could be solely used to retain the balls in their chance position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, but other embodiments will be apparent, within the scope of the following claims.

lclaim:

1. A finger manipulation game comprising a plurality of individually identifiable objects having dissimilar characteristics each adapted to fit around a users finger; and indicator means corresponding to each of said manipulation of said objects from finger to finger.

2. A finger manipulation game as in claim I, wherein the dissimilar characteristics are a different color on each of said objects.

3. A finger manipulation game as in claim 2, wherei n the objects are ring shaped.

4. A finger manipulation game as in claim 1, wherein the means corresponding to each of said dissimilar characteristics comprises balls and means for releasably holding said balls in a chance pattern, wherein at least portions of all of said balls are simultaneously viewable. Y

5. A finger manipulation game as in claim 1, wherein the means for releasably holding the balls comprises a housing; and

a slot through the housing arranged to receive the balls therein in side by side arrangement, but retaining said balls against their passage therethrough.

6. A finger manipulation game in claim 5, wherein the means for releasably holding the balls further comprises a keeper member slidable within the housing and arranged 

1. A finger manipulation game comprising a plurality of individually identifiable objects having dissimilar characteristics, each adapted to fit around a user''s finger; and indicator means corresponding to each of said dissimilar characteristics and opeable to designate a plurality of different arrangements of said objects, each of said arrangements simultaneously showing the relative position of all of said objects to be achieved by manipulation of said objects from finger to finger.
 2. A finger manipulation game as in claim 1, wherein the dissimilar characteristics are a different color on each of said objects.
 3. A finger manipulation game as in claim 2, wherein the objects are ring shaped.
 4. A finger manipulation game as in claim 1, wherein the means corresponding to each of said dissimilar characteristics comprises balls and means for releasably holding said balls in a chance pattern, wherein at least portions of all of said balls are simultaneously viewable.
 5. A finger manipulation game as in claim 1, wherein the means for releasably holding the balls comprises a housing; and a slot through the housing arranged to receive the balls therein in side by side arrangement, but retaining said balls against their passage therethrough.
 6. A finger manipulation game in claim 5, wherein the means for releasably holding the balls further comprises a keeper member slidable within the housing and arranged to seat against the balls when they are in the slot; yieldable means for resiliently biasing the keeper member towards the slot; and means for moving said keeper against the bias of said yieldable means.
 7. A finger manipulation game as in claim 6, wherein the housing has an enlarged head and a cylindrical extension portion; the individually identifiable objects telescope over the cylindrical extension portion; and a cap is provided to cooperate with the extension portion whereby the objects are secured between the enlarged head and the cap. 